Antenna for router to boost Wi-Fi signal
Wireless Internet is one of those things without which it is already impossible to imagine life. Now you can use gadgets, game consoles, Internet home appliances from anywhere in your home and office. But to run all these things at the same time, you need a good potential.
The easiest way to boost your wireless signal is to use an external router booster that you can buy, or you can make your own antenna. By gaining experience and learning the basics, you better begin to understand how to make the right choice.
Antenna polarization
Wi-Fi communications rely on radio frequency energy transmitted and received through antennas.
Receiving and transmitting antennas are devices that emit radio waves when electrical energy is applied. Radio waves, like all waves in the electromagnetic spectrum, are measured in Hertz units of frequency. When referring to radio waves, the term "wavelength" is often used. Wavelength (in meters) = 300 / frequency (in MHz). This relationship between frequency and wavelength is especially important for calculations and antenna design.
The orientation of the antenna relative to the earth's surface is called its "polarization". Designs that are designed for radio waves, oriented mainly parallel to the earth's surface, are called "horizontal". If the impact is directed at right angles to the earth's surface, then we are talking about "vertical" structures.
Some antennas can be used in either polarization by simply changing the position. Factors involved in choosing one polarization over another include operating frequency, desired coverage, mechanical limitations, and common practice.
It is very important to consider that all antennas in a communication system must use the same polarization. To maximize compatibility, circular or elliptical polarization is sometimes used.
Strengthening the receiving power and signal of the router
An antenna transmits (and receives) radio waves better in certain directions, thereby increasing the effective radiated power.
Note! The total radiated power does not increase, but simply becomes stronger in one or more directions and weaker in other directions.
This "gain" is applied to both the transmitted and received signal. The unit of measure for quantitative gain is the decibel or dB, which was named after Alexander Graham Bell.
Important! Higher dB values indicate higher gain.
The main types of antennas
What should be considered when creating an antenna? To work on signal amplification, it is always important to remember some features of signal transmission over distances. The choice of the type of antenna device can significantly affect the range and stability of the connection.
All Wi Fi antennas are divided into two types:
- directed,
- omnidirectional.
Which, in turn, are:
- internal,
- outdoor.
In addition, when installing the device, the following must be taken into account: a mismatch in the polarizations of access points will lead to the fact that in one of the positions the quality level will increase, and in the other it will disappear altogether.
Omnidirectional
The best option to extend the range of your home internet system is to install an external antenna with good gain and omnidirectionality. An omnidirectional antenna is usually a vertically polarized antenna. In a remote area where cellular communication is weak, it makes no sense to install such a device. The option is more applicable in urban areas.
Remember! Models of omnidirectional antennas naturally interfere with each other if improperly placed in close proximity to a conventional router.
One type of high gain omnidirectional antenna is a vertical collinear wi fi antenna with a single feed point and element phasing.
Directed
The antenna is a passive device that adds no power to the signal. However, there are methods to increase the share of energy transmitted in a certain direction by reducing the share of energy transmitted in other directions.
If you use directional antenna amplifiers, you can significantly improve the coverage area of \u200b\u200bwi-fi.
One of the least common (due to its high cost) types of antennas in cellular communications are sector antennas. The devices allow you to provide a high level of Internet connection if you use multi-panel installation schemes. Vertical and horizontal beam focusing (90, 120 degrees) prevents interference from other antennas.
How to connect free internet wi-fi
There are several ways to boost the signal so that you can connect to available points or to a neighbor's router that shares its Wi-Fi password.
Powerful do-it-yourself antenna
You can make a wifi antenna directional amplifier yourself, fortunately, there are many similar schemes on the Internet today. For example, a double biquad antenna with a gain of 12 dB. For assembly, you will need a copper wire with a diameter of 2 to 3 mm and a length of 300 mm.
As a reflector, you can use a plate of foil getinaks. Foil getinax is pressed paper impregnated with an adhesive and covered with copper foil. If this is not the case, then any metal can be used, for example, the lid of an old system unit or an ordinary beer can.
The first thing to start with is to bend a double figure eight of wire with sides of 30 mm squares. To do this, the wire must be marked into 8 equal parts, bent in the marked places at an angle of 90 degrees with the help of pliers. The result should be an antenna in the form of a figure eight.
Next, you need to cut the reflector from the getinaks plate. Mark the center on the plate and drill two holes on it: for the antenna and the wire exit. The distance between the wire and the plate must be at least 15 mm.
Next, you need a wi-fi adapter, or rather its small antenna. Having drilled a hole in the adapter case, the wire is output. The central wire is soldered to the figure eight, and the winding to the leg. This is how the wifi antenna double biquad is arranged. It remains to connect to a laptop and see how it picks up signals. Compared to the built-in antenna for a do-it-yourself router, it's just a wi-fi gun!
Do-it-yourself ultra-long wi fi antenna
For the manufacture of an antenna design for ultra-long-range communication, first of all, you will need a sheet of foil-coated (at least on one side) getinax or fiberglass. The material must be in good condition, of sufficient size and thickness. You will also need self-adhesive vinyl stencils with a mounting film that will protect the said sheets from etching.
The rear wall-reflector can be made from any flat metal sheet, even from foil, the main thing is even and flat.
The textolite is first marked out, then cut by a grinder into two parts 450x350 mm in size. Before etching, the sheet is cleaned with fine sandpaper, which is quite important.
There should be strictly 9 mm between the reflector, which is also cut out of the getinax, and the board itself. These 9 mm can be made with flat plastic. Further assembly consists in gluing the parts obtained, holes are first left in soft plastic, so that later the wire can be soldered. The wire and connector are bought at the radio market. The connector is selected according to the antennas of the router.
The result is an ultra-long antenna for a wi-fi router. At a distance of one km from the access point, this powerful homemade antenna has a gain of 80 dB.
PCB etching with mortar
Etching is a rather difficult task. The difficulty lies in finding a container for large sheets. If there is none, you can do it yourself again. To make a homemade container, you will need a frame of four rails and a film in several layers. The film is covered and fixed with self-tapping screws.
Ferric chloride is the simplest and most commonly used method for PCB etching.
- use ferric chloride in a closed small space;
- touch the solution with bare hands;
- use metal utensils or metal for the mixing process;
- use glass or plastic trays in the pickling process;
- after use, throw the solution into the ground or somewhere.
- cover your nose and eyes during etching;
- after etching, the solution can be reused once, but must be stored in a cool place away from sunlight.
There are many interesting options on the Internet on how to make a wifi antenna that you can take into service. For example, you can make a directional model from an omnidirectional antenna. To do this, just attach a reflective screen behind it, for example, from the same sheet of foil.
It remains only to choose a suitable wifi antenna, increase the network range and not part with Wi-Fi even for a second.
